45,000-litre fuel tanker overturns in Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has contained a tanker accident involving a truck loaded with 45,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit on Ijako Road, inward Oke Oso, along the Ajah Expressway in Epe.

The accident occurred on Friday when a Mack tanker reportedly overturned while climbing Ijako Hill following a mechanical fault.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency received an emergency alert at 11:32am and promptly deployed its Whales Team from the Epe Base to the scene.

The team arrived four minutes after it was dispatched.

Oke-Osanyintolu said initial findings indicated that the tanker’s propeller became detached from its joint while the vehicle was ascending the hill, resulting in a loss of momentum and causing the truck to overturn.

He added that one of the tanker’s compartments was leaking fuel, leading emergency personnel to immediately initiate containment and safety operations.

“There were no reported fatalities or injuries. Prior to LASEMA’s arrival, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Oke Oso Station, had commenced containment measures to prevent fire outbreak and environmental hazard,” the statement said.

The emergency agency said the operation was being managed through the Incident Command System, with various agencies deployed to the scene to prevent the incident from escalating.

Those involved in the response included LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and representatives of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

LASEMA explained that the coordinated response was necessary to secure the area, protect motorists and prevent possible secondary incidents.

“The operation is being coordinated under the Incident Command System with full multi-agency collaboration,” the agency said.

It added, “Traffic has been effectively managed to ensure safety of motorists while preventing secondary incidents.”

As part of efforts to safely resolve the situation, LASEMA said an empty tanker had been deployed to transfer the petroleum product from the overturned vehicle before recovery operations could proceed.

“An empty tanker has been mobilized for the safe transloading of the product, after which recovery of the fallen truck will commence,” it said.

Oke-Osanyintolu praised the emergency responders for their prompt intervention and professional handling of the incident.

He reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through proactive disaster-risk management and the adoption of internationally recognised emergency-response standards.

The LASEMA permanent secretary also urged motorists to cooperate with traffic officials and keep away from the affected section of the road to enable responders to carry out their duties without obstruction.

“Motorists are advised to cooperate with traffic officials and avoid the immediate area to allow unhindered operations,” the agency said.

LASEMA said additional information would be released as the emergency operation progresses.

The agency also urged residents to contact its toll-free emergency numbers, 112 or 767, whenever emergencies occur.